Searching for the Titanic in NYC
In the early hours of April 15th 1912 the RMS Titanic slipped beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, taking with it over 1,500 souls and securing its place in legend. Many of those 1,500 souls were on a voyage to seek a better life in America, via New York City, the ship's ultimate destination.
Had the tragic events of April 15th not taken place, the ship was scheduled to land at New York’s Pier 59 on April 17th, delivering its passengers both rich and poor. Today that dock, as well as Cunard Line’s nearby Pier 54 remain as some of the starkest reminders of that dark moment in maritime history.
Today Pier 59 is part of the Chelsea Market Piers. Standing there the first thing that hits you is just how small it is. In my mind the Titanic seems unimaginably large, but seeing its intended dock drives home its actual size, which simply could not live up to legend. Sadly, Pier 59 did in fact see some small part of Titanic on April 18th. RMS Carpathia would stop here briefly upon arrival in New York to deliver Titanic’s recovered lifeboats, before continuing on to Pier 54 to deliver Titanic’s passengers along with her own.
Unfortunately Pier 54 has been lost to the ages, having long since rotted away. Today its former location is home to a new public park. However, the site's iron gates still stand, allowing you to touch a piece of history. As Titanic’s 706 surviving passengers disembarked it is inevitable that at least a few of them touched these iron beams. Standing there with a hand on this ancient metal, you can’t help but be overcome by the sense of sorrow, loss, and confusion felt by those survivors.
Although various cities around the world play host to Titanic artifacts, New York is one of only a few places where you can truly stand in the footsteps of Titanic’s history. These 2 locations in particular are the only 2 to truly bear witness to the sorrow of her survivors, and offer an unbelievable opportunity to feel connected to that terrible chapter in history.
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